Screenings set for ‘Whensday’ DVD release

NoCoast Artists’ cinematic love letter to Fort Collins, “Whensday,” is now available on DVD.

A special premiere event will take place Saturday at the Lyric Cinema Cafe, 300 E. Mountain Ave., launching a variety of special screenings, which include a live director’s commentary and a “Whensday”-themed scavenger hunt.

“We wanted each screening to be a special event as opposed to just — watch the movie, get your DVD and go home,” said NoCoast Artists’ Andrew Schneider.

The film was shot in and around the city using an all-local cast that includes a veritable who’s who of area artists, musicians and events — including a special cameo by the annual Tour de Fat bike parade.

Originally, the filmmakers had planned to screen the film at independent theaters across the state and make it available online. They were surprised to find that their audience didn’t just want a download, they wanted a physical copy of the film, Schneider said.

Even a misprint on the cover of first batch of DVDs didn’t do much to dampen the excitement for Schneider, who joked, “It was like ‘Yay, they’re here!’ Oh, wait. We have 1,000 DVDs with misprinted labels.’ ”

The corrected DVDs can be purchased at a variety of Old Town locations, including the Lyric and the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.

“ ‘Whensday’ was obviously huge for us,” Schneider said. “Not a week has gone by in the last year that someone hasn’t commented to me personally about it ... People also want to know what we’re doing next, which is pretty exciting.”

Up next is a post-apocalyptic Western musical, which Schneider is careful to point out is not a musical with western-style music but a Western film with music.

The “psychic sibling” to “Whensday” will feature some of the same cast members and pull a bit from the storyline. The film about Fort Collins’ future after fracking has some biting commentary, but it is a comedy, Schneider said.

“It’s pretty hilarious, I gotta say.”

The “Whensday” DVD release premiere is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lyric Cinema Cafe, 300 E. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins. Tickets are $9. Visit www.whensday.com for more information as well as a full list of locations where the DVD will be on sale.

Stacy Nick can’t sing, paint or recite Shakespeare, but she loves when other people do. You can follow the Coloradoan arts and entertainment reporter on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coloradoanstacy.nick and on Twitter @StacyNick.